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Article published April 17, 2013

Couple, children escape early morning city fire

A couple and their two young children were forced from their Butler home early this morning after fire ignited in the basement.No one was hurt and city firefighters quickly snuffed out the blaze at the two -story rental house in the 100 block of Hansen Avenue, authorities said.A cause of the fire was not immediately known and remains under investigation. It was not considered suspicious.Tenant Ryan Kerchersky Sr. had awakened about 3:20 a.m. to use the bathroom when he smelled smoke and heard the smoke detector alarm.A firefighter and emergency medical technician for the East Butler Volunteer Fire Department, Kerchersky went downstairs to inspect.“I opened the (basement) door and got a face full of smoke,” he said. “Then I saw the glow of the fire.”He immediately dashed upstairs to alert his sleeping wife. They got their children, 7 months and 8 years old, and got out safely.Once everyone was out, including the family dog, Kerchersky called 911.Butler firefighters wasted no time in getting inside and putting out the blaze.Damage was estimated at $1,000 to the house and another $500 to the contents, said fire officials, who did not know the name of the homeowner this morning.